Syllabus

American Dreams/American Realities

History 195S.15
Fall 2005
Gerald L. Wilson
04Allen Building
684-2865

I. FOCUS OF SEMINAR

By using examples from American History this seminar will examine characteristics of leaders and the decision-making process. Attention will be given ethical issues involved in both the process and the product of decision-making.

II. METHODOLOGY

As a seminar, student participation lies at the core of the classroom experience. Each student will be expected to contribute to class discussions daily and to lead the seminar on the day his or her paper is presented.

III. REQUIRED READING

Rosenbloum, Robert and Gerald Wilson, The Value of Myth(course pak)
Deparle, Jason, American Dreams
Potter, David, People of Plenty
Moody, Anne, Coming of Age in Mississippi
Hellman, John, American Myth Legacy of Viet Nam
Schlesinger, Arthur M., The Disuniting of America

Additional readings as assigned

Specific reading assignments for each week will be made the preceding week.

IV. PAPER AND CLASS PRESENTATION

Each student will prepare a paper of about 20 pages either individually, or as part of a team, to be presented to the class on a designated day, examining the life of a historical or contemporary person or examining a problem or policy as it reflects leadership or the failure thereof.

Please note the following:

(1) The paper/presentation topic must be approved in advance by the instructor.

(2) On the day of the presentation at the beginning of class, student(s) will present an outline of the paper to the instructor and class.

(3) The paper is due at the end of the final exam period designated for a course if a final exam were to be given. It should be revised taking into account class criticism\comments and it should contain a section of at least 1 page at the beginning or the end responding to these criticisms (e.g. Indicated how you revised the paper or why you did not). If you wish to have a copy returned to you with the instructor=s comments, you must turn in two copies of the paper.

V. CLASS ATTENDANCE

Since this is a seminar, students are expected to attend all class sessions unless compelling reasons prevent attendance.

VI. EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE

Final evaluation of a student's performance in the class will be based on two factors:

(1) Participation in class discussions (50%)
(2) Paper and class presentation (50%)

VII. QUESTIONS/PROBLEMS

Dean Wilson will be available to students for discussion of matters pertaining to the course. Please call 684-2865 or come by 04 Allen Building and identify yourself as a member of the class to arrange an appointment.

Course Schedule

Session I Introduction- Course Requirements, Definition of Myth
Introduction- Overview of Myths

Session II Continuation of Overview of Myths

Session III Chapter I of Rosenbloum and Wilson, The Value of Myths

Session IV The Success Myth- Puritans/Social Darwinism

Session V The Success Myth- American Dreams, Jason Deparle

Session VI Discussion of Paper Topics

Session VII The Frontier Myth

Session VIII The Frontier Myth- People of Plenty, David Potter
The Politics of the Myth of the Frontier, Ted Amley, (Library Reserve)
Buffalo Bill Cody, Julie Hood (Library Reserve)

Session IX The Agrarian Myth
“The Selling of Rural American”, Robert Goldman and David R. Dickers (Handout)
“Ideal Farms V Industrial Farms”, Elizabeth Becker” (Handout)

Session X Discussion of Agrarian Myth Continued

Session XI The Foreign Devil
“The Klan’s Fight for Americanism (1926)”, Hiram W. Evans (Handout)
“The Ku Klux Klan’s Use of American Myths to Perpetuate and Spread Its Influence”, Wendy Purtle, (Library Reserve)
“Conspiracy Within, The Wheeling West Virginia Speech”, Senator Joseph McCarthy (Handout)
“McCartheyis,” Jeffrey Feldstein (Library Reserve)
“A Nation Defined by its Enemies, “Robert Worth (Handout)

Session XII The City on a Hill Myth, Reagan’s Speech (Handout), “Governor Mario Cuomo Challenges President Reagan’s Portrayal of Americans as a “Shining City on a Hill”, (Handouts), People of Plenty, Chapter VI, “From Theological Tenent to Political Password,” Kimberly Winston

Session XIII Transition of Myths, “The Value of Myth”, Chapters II and III, “American Mythology and The Pop Music of War”, Jeffrey Domina (Library Reserve), “Uncovering Vietnam: War Journalism and Its impact on American Mythology”’ Marc Cavan (Library Reserve), “Dr. Seuss and the American Myths”, Hillary Schubach (Library Reserve), “Myths In Presidential Inaugural Addresses: The Evolution of Continuity,” Ryan Van Grack.

Session XIV The 50’s- The Dream “Fulfilled,” Coming of Age in Mississippi , Anne Moody

Session XV The 50’s (Continued)

Session XVI Vietnam and the Homefront- “The Dream Denied”, American Myth and The Legacy of Vietnam, John Hellman

Session XVII Vietnam (Continued)

Session XVIII Whither The Myths? The Disuniting of America, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., “The European Dream”, Jeremy Rifkin (Handout)

The remainder of the semester will be devoted to the class presentations and discussion of these presentations.